Changeable illuminated sign



S. W. KULK.

CHANGIABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN.

APPLICATIOI' 'No IU 2 1,410,194. Patented Mar. 21,1922.

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urea sans STEPHEN W. KOLK, O NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

CHANGEABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed .Tune 20, 1921. Serial No. 478,903.

T 0 all whom t may concern.

Be it' known that I, STEPHEN W. Kohn, a citizen of the Republic of Poland, (who has declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) and a resident of North Tonawanda in the county of Niagara and th State of ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Changeable Illuminated Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to changea-ble illuminated signs having their legends formed by uncovering certain portions of their display fronts illuminated from within the casing.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an illuminated sign, legend of which can be changed quickly to a different one by simply changing the location of certain sections of the display front, eliminating thus the necessity of carrying a stock of extra characters required for the setting of different legends.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sign, the legend of which is clearly and distinctly visible at any time of the day or ni ht.

Sti l another object of my invention is to provide a sign having different portions of its legend illuminated at night in different colors, or the entire legend illuminated in an desired single color.

Still other and further objects will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description and drawings.

My invention is especially adapted for use in anyn business, theatrical, manufacturing or transportation enterprises requiring signs to display announcements, programs or advertising matter, the text of which has to be changed frequently.

My invention can be used in various sizes and forms such` as: window .display signs, wall bulletin boards, or large signs erected either on the ground or on the tops of buildings or other structures.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is the elevational view of one display front ofthe sign in the present embodiment of my invention. A

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the sign indicated by lines 2-2 in Figf 1.

. Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail elevational view of the display front showing two sections, one covered and the other open.

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal 'section through apart of the display .front as indicated by lines 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section through a part of the display front as indicated by lines 5 5 in Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail elevational view of the display front, showing a position of a covering plate inserted so as to close one section. of said display front.

Figure 7 is ahorizontal section of a part of the display front indicated by lines 7-7 in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a detail enlarged cross section through one of the spring clamps used to hold covering plates.

In the present embodiment of my invention I use a sheet metal casing 9 having two display fronts, reserving, however the right to use a casing having one, three or four fronts. Each of said fronts comprises a suitable angle iron frame 10 anda pluralit of,

horizontal bars 11, and vertical bars 12. 'aid bars can be of any suitable shape in cross section, and are widely and evenly spaced, horizontally and vertically, each bar having both ends fastened to said frame 10. Said horizontal and vertical bars are also fastened to each other at intersections by means of screws 13.

By suitable arrangement of the said bars 11 and 12 a skeleton display front is formed, having a plurality of open spaces 14 of rectangular outline, bordered by said horizontal and vertical bars on four sides. To display a legend of any desired wording a certain number of said spaces 14 is coveredI entirely or partly from the outer side of said display front by a plurality of rectangular covering plates 15, triangular plates 16 and plates 17 of irregular polygon outline. All of said covering plates are made of suitable opaque material, preferably sheet metal, being provided with handles 18 for the purpose of convenient handling. Each of plates 15 is adapted to cover entirely any of said spaces 14, while each plate 16 4and 17 is adapted to cover only partially any one of said spaces. To fasten any of said opaque covering plates to said display front I use spring clamps 19 fastened to the vertical bars 12 by means of rivets .20. Spring clamps 19 are made of suitable'spring material, preferably spring sheet steel. clamps 19 has raised portions 19 and 19b Each of said springr on its sides, which form suitableslots to receive the vertical edges of covering plates 15, 16 and 17 when the said clamps 19 are .fastened to vertical bars 1.2.` A wi'derl raised portion 19b has a convex longitudinal elevation 19 onits inner side as shown in Fig. 8.

To cover any open space 14 the right vertical edge of covering plate 15 is pressed in under the raisedportion 19b past the eleva` tion 19c clear to the shoulder 19d of spring clamp 19 lifting thus the whole portion 19b as illustrated in Fig. 7. Theleft vertical edge of covering plate 15 is'then brought down close to spacing plates 22 and pushed under the raised portion 19- of next spring clamp 19 to. the left. The right vertical edge of covering plate 15 being by this operation pulled away lfrom the shoulder 19d, slips from under elevation 19, releasing thus the whole portion 19b 'which springs -back to its original position with its flat clamping edge resting on the right vertical edge of covering plate 15, the elevation 19c acting as a stop for the right vertical edge of plate 15.- To detach any of the plates 15,

the right vertical edge of said plate is pushedY in under the portion 19b to shoulder 19?i rel leasing thus the left vertical edge and the said plate can be easily removed by pulling the right vertical edge from under the clamping portion 19b of springclamp 19. Similar operations are used for attaching and detaching of covering plates 16 and 17. Said skeleton display front and covering plates are .finished in any suitable color, preferably black. In Fig. 1 of the'accompanying drawings a sign is shown having a display front adapted to display a single row of characters, but I wish it to be understood that I may use a sign having. display frontsadapted to display several rows of characters of any suitable length.y

Inside of casing 9 in the back of each rectangular space 14 a white opal glass plate 21 is held in vertical position, separated from said horizontal bars 11 at the top andbottom by means of spacing plates 22. Said glass plates 21 are supported at vertical edges by said vertical b ars 12; and at the top and bottom by a short horizontal supports 23, being clamped down to vertical bars 12 by means ofiat clamping strips 24 which are fastenedto said vertical bars by means of screws 25.` Although I use one white opal glass plate in rear of each rectangular space 14 in the4 present embodiment of my invention, I may use larger plates adapted to shield more than one of said spaces 14'from the inside of said casing.

plates of different4 material bottom by. said horizontal supports 23. Said transparent plates 26, made of glass or other suitable material in any desired Color, are interchangeable and easily detached when not needed.`

To illuminate said display fronts from within said casing 9, I use a number of electric lights 28 held in receptacles 29, the wires to each light being enclosed intubing 30. I reserve also the right to use any different suitable source of light in place of the described electric lights.V

To display a desired legenden any of said display fronts a certain number of said rectan'gular spaces 14 between said bars 11 and 12 are covered entirely or partly with said opaque covering plates 15, 16 and 17 so that the formation andarrangement of open or partly open spaces resembles acombination of letters, characters and numerals, forming the desired legend as illustrated in' ig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. Through the uncovered spaces forming .said legend a ``white background formed by said glass plates 21 is plainly visible, making said spaces very distinct from covered parts of said display front. It may be noticed in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings that by using narrow supporting bars 11 and 12, the characters comprising said legend appear almost solid and very distinctive. At night while the sign is illuminated from within the legend appears even more distinct. IVhen an illuminated legend of a certain single color is desired a plurality of transparent plates 26 of one desired color are placed in position, one in back of each open or partly open rectangular space 14. When any one of said spaces 14 is entirely covered by a covering plate 15, it is of course not necessary to place a transparent plate 26 in back of the said space.

The change of a legend to a different one is accomplished by uncovering the area to represent the combination of characters forming a desiredl legend and covering all remaining open sections of the display front with covering plates 15, 16 and 17.

While I have described herein one embodiment/of my invention, and have described dierent Ways in which the same may be used, it will be understood that the same may be further modied without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and I desire it understood that I reserve the right to make necessary changes or modifications within the scope of the invention as expressed in claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a changeable illuminated sign the co-mbination with a casing having one or more display fronts, each front comprisinof a suitable outer frame and a plurality of horizontal and vertical bars arranged in two close parallel planes and suitably spazed to forma plurality of rectangular open spaces therebetween, a plurality'of independent, opaque plates .of rectangular, triangular and irregular polygon outline, covering entirely or partly certain of Asaid spaces in suchr` arrangement that formation of uncovered spaces resembles a combination of characters, all of said opaque plates being interchangeable and each one adapted to cover either entirely or partly any one of said rectangular spaces, means for fastening of said opaque plates to said bars, said means also providing for quick detaching of any of said plates when desired, a plurality of white opal glass plates held in plane parallel to said bars, close behind said spaces on the inner side of said display front, a source of light inside said casing in back f said white opal glass plates.

2. Ina changeable illuminated sign the combination with a casing having one or more skeleton display fronts, each front comprising an outer frame and a plurality of longitudinal and cross bars arranged in two close parallel planes and suitably spaced to form a plurality of rectangular open spaces therebetween, a plurality o independent, opaque plates of rectangular, triangular and irregular polygon outline, each of said plates covering entirely or partly certain of said spaces in such arrangement that formation of uncovered spaces resembles a combination of characters, all of said opaque plates being interchangeable and each one adapted to cover either entirely or partly anyone of said spaces, -a plurality of white translucent plates in .plane parallel to said bars, held in back of said spaces on the inner side of said display front, means for hold- 'ing said translucent plates in position, a plurality of transparent plates lof any color in back of'said translucent plates, saidtransparent plates being interchangeable to each other, means for holding said transparent vplates in a plane parallel to said translucent plates, said means also providing for quick detaching of any of said transparent plates when desired, a source of light inside said casing in back of said translucent and transparent plates.

3. In a changeable illuminated sign, the skeleton display front comprising an outer frame and a plurality of horizontal and vertical bars fastened at ends to said frame and arranged to form a plurality of rectangular open spaces therebetween, a plurality of independent opaque plates of rectangular, triangular and irregular polygon outline covering entirely or partly certain of said spaces from the front side of said display front, each of said opaque plates being adapted to be transferred from ,one of said spaces to any other, means for fastening said opaque plates to said display front said means also providing for quick detaching of any of said opaque plates when desired, a plurality of white opal glass plates shielding said spaces from the` rear side of said display front, means for holding said white opal plates in plane parallel to said display front.

4. In a changeable illuminated sign, the combination with a casing illuminated from within having one or more skelton display fronts, each front having a plurality of closely and evenly spaced rectangular openings,` .a plurality of independent opaque plates of rectangular, triangular and irregular polygon outline, covering entirely or partly certain of said openings in such arrangement that formation of remaining uncovered openings resembles a combination of characters, all of said opaque plates having suitable handles, meansfor fastening said opaque plates to said display front, said means providing also for quick detaching of any of said plates when desired.

52 A changeable illuminated sign comprising a casing illuminated from within, with one or more skelton display fronts, each front having a plurality of evenly spaced rectangular openings shielded from inside of said casing by a plurality of translucent plates, .a plurality of transparent colored plates in back of said translucent plates inside of said casing, a plurality of independent opaque plates ofrectangular, triangular and irregular polygon outline covering entirely or partially certain of said openingsfrom the front side of said display front in such arrangement that formation of remaining uncovered openings resembles a combination of characters, means for fastening of said opaque plates to said display front, said means providing also for quick detaching of any of said plates when desired.

6. In a changeable illuminated sign .a skeleton display front having a plurality of evenly spaced rectangular openings, all of said openings being covered from the rear side of said display front by a plurality of transluscent plates; a plurality of independent opaque plates of rectangular'triangular and irregular polygon outline, covering entirely or partly certain of said openings from the front side of said display front in such arrangement that formation of remaining uncovered openings resembles a `combination'of characters; means whereby any of said opaque plates can be removed from one of said rectangular openings and transferred to cover any other of said open- 1n s.

In a changeable illuminated sign, the skeleton display front comprising an outer frame and .a plurality of horizontal and vertical bars fastened at ends to said frame and arranged to form a plurality of'rectangular open spaces therebetween, a plurality of independent opaque plates of rectangular, triangular and irregular polygon Voutline coverlng entirely or partly certain of said spaces from the front side of said display front each of said opaqueplates being adapted to be transferred from one of saidspaces'to any other, a plurality of spring clamps fastened to said vertical bars forming suitable slots to receive and hold the vertical side edges of said vopaque plates, said spring I opaque plates from said displa front when.

desired, a plurality of trans ucent plates 15 shieldingsaid spaces'from the rear side of esaid display front, means for holding said translucent plates in Y a plane parallel 'to said display front.

STEPHEN- W. KOLK.

Witnesses:

FERNAND E. BELUCHE, EDWIN H. PRANGE. 

